A Story From Sri Lankan Literature: Analyzed

Plot

The single effect in “Among the Hills” is seen when Ranjitham is pondering about the events of the previous day before as she walked. This opening sets up the problem with Ranji in a dilemma about what had happened the previous day when her father had refused to give her away in marriage to a man that she liked. There is exposition as characters are introduced; the scene is made evident with a suggestion of the tea pluckers. The time is stated as twelve noon. When talking about the turning point, it is apparent that it is the place when Ranji visits Muttiah’s residence and feels a certain sense of nostalgia. She looks at one of her would be groom’s brothers and considers that even she had siblings who could do not do without her. She thought of her hapless mother who was often unable to look after the children. This leads to the conclusion where there is a sense of surprise when Ranji makes up her mind and runs off resisting Valli’s advances.

Character

It is learnt that Muthiah is older than Ranji when she tells latter that he is a big person in the scene where she serves him tea lacking sugar. This counts as a physical detail of Muthiah. Ranji is a round, dynamic character. There are moments when she is aghast and ashamed and there are times when she is laughing. Valli’s mother is flat and static as she makes brief appearance. Muttiah can be portrayed as a round character with him getting mad that Ranji thought he was lazying around in the field. His sister Valli stated that he been terribly upset and had not eaten since hearing that Ranji’s father had declined the marriage proposal. Valli’s character is vital in this piece of writing as she is the one who brings Ranji to her home and this leads to the climax. Valli does not look a round character as she doesn’t have a multi-faceted personality in the story and who’s only aim in the narrative is to convince Ranji to get married to her brother.

Setting

The place and time of the story is shown by the usage of words like tea plucker, Muttiah, Ranji and kanganies. These are Sri-Lankan names and terms. Valli’s reference to Ranji’s salary of eighty or ninety rupees seems to imply a date and time that is quite far back and also the currency. Most importantly, the heading “Among the Hills” gives the reader a chance to know where the location is. The words used, nonetheless, will appeal to Sri-Lankan readers because only they can recognize them. This allows them to move into the particular event. The Murunga tree and ladies being dressed in saris are talked about and this is further evidence of the surroundings.

Point of View

The point of view shows how the story is presented to an audience. In this short story, it is evident that there is a third person narrator who is a nonparticipant in the story. The narrator is limited omniscient. That is, he is able to see in to Ranjitham’s character. Limited omniscient relating is more often than not restricted to illuminating the thoughts of one character. There seems to be a facet of judgmental omniscience in portions of the account where the author tells the story by explaining the actions and speech of the characters. With sentences like “the relationship that begun thus was now in the balance”, the writer is telling the reader why certain things were occurring.

Style

The language used is mostly straightforward. Symbols are applied to draw the attention of the reader. Symbols like Ranji contemplating soaking herself up in kerosene and setting fire to herself to convey the misery of her life. Signs are shown when Ranji is musing over what would be the state of affairs at her home with words like her tea would be going cold and collecting dust in the white jug. The mountain is described as having taken the appearance of a closely shaven grey head. The style is made to help us sympathise with Ranji’s painful choice of home over heart.

Theme

The theme comes last in the elements of fiction discussion because all the other factors need to be seen to before the theme can be determined.The theme is more general than the plot. The plot of “Among the Hills” may talk about a girl who gives up affection of a young man for her family that needs her desperately. However the theme is a simplification and could be stated as forsaking personal joy for family wellbeing. Often the theme is seen as having a moral background. A theme of a story is where different readers interpret it differently. It must be kept in mind that no themes can stand on its own and needs great support from the story itself. Here the audience is made to understand the plight of Ranji’s family and helps the reason that she has made right choice in putting her family first even by sacrificing her personal joy.